Automatic collator



July 3, 1956 w. E. THOMAS AUTOMATIC COLLATOR 8 Sheets-Sheet 1*.

Filed Aug. 8. 1950 INVENTOR A ORNEY July 3, 1956 w. E. THOMAS AUTOMATICCOLLATOR 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 8. 1950 INVENTO R #445? fry/v[WM/5.

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July 3, 1956 w. E. THOMAS 2,753,180

AUTOMATIC COLLATOR Filed Aug. 8, 1950 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 I 1 .5- e e :1

. 9a 95 o I 72 ATTORNEY July 3, 1956 w. E. THOMAS 2,753,180

AUTOMATIC COLLATOR Filed Aug. 3, 1950 Fall 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 I I 1 l N VE NTO R 5 Way/P f/a/v Zia/W5.

July 3, 1956 w. E. THOMAS 2,753,186

AUTOMATIC COLLATOR Filed Aug. 8, 1950 v 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR. Wavein? 794 /)95.

A TTORNEY United States P n The instant invention relates .to machinesor devices usually termed, collators, adapted to support a plurality ofstacks of sheets and to gather the sheets from the stacks inpredetermined arrangement. The invention also relates to improved sheetsupplying and feeding means designed especially for incorporation incollators but also adapted for use with other types of sheet handlingequip ment.

A principal object of the instant invention is the provision of animproved collating apparatus operating automatically to collate sheetsfrom a plurality of stations. Another object of the invention is theprovision ofsuch apparatus involving a plurality of stations, eachsupporting a stack of sheets, a continuously movingconveyor to receive asheet from each stack and to position a previously delivered sheet toreceive a sheet from another stack, and means to deliver a sheet fromeach stack to such conveying means.

Another object of the invention is theprovision of a device as describedabove, including automatic control means to prevent delivery of sheetsby the sheet delivery means and to prevent movement of the previouslydelivered sheets by the conveying means, upon the failure of any of saidsheet delivery means to pick up a sheet from its stack.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a sheet receivingmeans adjustable to accommodate sheets of different dimensions. i

Another object of the invention is the provision of improved means forfeedingthe sheets fromthe stack of an apparatus of the typedescribedabove. It will be appreciated, however, asthe descriptionproceeds that the sheet delivery means may equally well be employed withother types of sheet handling equipment.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a sheet deliverymeans including a holder for supporting a stack of sheets, and means forpositioning the holderwith the forward sheet of the stack in agivenregistration position, irrespective of the number of sheets in thestack.

A further object of the invention isthe provision of a sheet deliverymeans ineluding a sheet holder and a cooperating suction pick up anddelivery device,.the sheet holder being constructed and supported toposition the upper portion of the forward sheet of the stack at theregistration point to be picked up by suction means, irrespective of thenumber of sheets in the stack and the dimensions of the sheets.

A still further object of theinvention is the provision of sheetdelivery means including a holder for a stack of sheets, and means tomove the holder rearwardly in timed relationship to the pick upoperation of the sheet pick up and delivery means. A still furtherobject is the provision of such device which is adapted to release thesheet holder for manual, rearward movement for renewal of the supply ofsheets.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of novel meansfor separating the forward sheet ofthe stack from the remainder and formoving the forward 2,753,180 Patented July 3, 1956 2 sheet toward thepick up and delivery means whereby double sheeting is avoided. Thisobject is attained by a device adapted to set up currents of air movingtoward and across the upper edge of a stack of sheets.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a collatingdevice having means to permit adjustment in its operation to conform thesame to accommodate sheets of various types and grades.

My invention will be more fully understood and further objectsandadvantages thereof will become apparent when reference is made to thedetailed description which is to follow, and to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Fig. l is a perspective View of a collator embodying the instantinvention; i

Fig. 2 is a partial perspective view illustrating the delivery end ofthe machine;

Fig. 3 is a partial perspective view illustrating the opposite end ofthe machine from Fig. 2 with. the sheet delivery means in .operation;

Fig. 4- is a top plan view of the apparatus of Fig. I;

Fig. .5 is a sectional view, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; i

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken transversely ofthe machine through one of the stations on the line 6-6 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the machine on theline 7-7 of Fig. 8 and illustrating the drive and control devices;

Fig. .8 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the drive and controldevices of Fig. 7, taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a front elevational view of a sheet holder as employed at eachofthe stations of the apparatus of Fig. l;

Fig. it) is a rear elevational view of the sheet holder;

Fig. ll is a sectional view taken on the line 1111 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of the sheet holder similar to thatof Fig. 6but on an enlarged scale and illustrating the operation of the sheetseparating or dispersal device;

Fig. 13 is a detail perspective view of the sheet separating anddispersal device shown in assembly in Figs. 6

and 12;

Fig. 14 is a detail sectional view on a further enlarged scale of aportion of the sheet separating and dispersaldevice of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a sectional view similar to that of Fig. 6, but illustratingonly a portion of the apparatus;

Fig. 16 is a detail view illustrating the suction control means for thesheet pick up and delivery device;

Fig. 17 is a sectional detail view on an enlarged scale illustrating thesuction valve of the control means of Fig. 16; and i i Fig. 18 is awiring diagram for the electrical system of the apparatus.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, themachine embodying the instant inventionis illustrated as having aplurality of similar stations A, B, C, D, and E, each supporting a stackof sheets 10, sheet pick up and delivery means, indicated generally at12, feed rolls 14, and a conveyor 16 adapted to receive the sheets fromthe feed rolls 14 in collated relationship. In the operation of themachine, as will be more fully described later, sheets aresimultaneously picked up from the stacks at each of the stations inoperation and carried to the feed rolls M where they are grasped anddeposited on conveyor 16. The latter is driven in timed relationship tothe pick up and delivery means and operates in cooperation Withretractable stops, whereby at each delivery operation, the sheets aredeposited on previously delivered sheets from the preceding stacks. inthis way a number of sheets are gathered, the number being dependentupon the number of stations A, B, C, D, and E in operation,

3 and the gathered sheets are delivered by conveyor 16 to a receivingbin 20.

The construction and operation of the individual stations and theircomponent parts will be first described, the common drive, the controlmeans for the several stations, and the sheet receiving means to bediscussed later. Each of the stations includes a sheet holder 22 adaptedto support a stack of one of the sheets which is to make up the collatedmaterial.

The sheet holder Referring particularly to Figs. 6, 9, 10, 11 and 12,the sheet holder comprises a base plate 24 having bosses 26 (seeparticularly Figs. 6 and 9) mounted for sliding movement on spaced rods28 extending upwardly at an angle to the horizontal from a rear framemember 30 to a forward frame member 32.

The paper holder 22 is normally pressed forwardly on the rods 28, thatis, toward conveyor 16, by tension springs 23 fixed at one end tobrackets carried by the holder and at the other end to a fixed frameelement of the machine. Preferably a plurality of the springs areemployed for each of the holders, as illustrated particularly in Fig. 4.Reinforcing angle members 34 extend along both ends of plate 24 and arebent upwardly into substantially right angular relation to the baseplate 24 to form the vertical members 36 of a skeleton back structure.The latter also consists of cross bars 38 and 40 connecting the anglebars 36 at the top and bottom, respectively.

Seated against the skeleton back is a filler 4-2 consisting of a sheetmetal plate or the like, with its lower end riveted or otherwise securedto cross bar 40, as illustrated particularly in Fig. 10, with its upperend formed as a hook 44 fitting over the upper edge of cross bar 38.Member 42 is of less width than the distance between frame members 36 toprovide openings 46 at each side. The paper holder proper consists of anL-shaped member 48 having a shelf 50 and a back plate 52, the latterextending at right angles to the shelf to rest against member 42. Member48 is adapted for vertical adjustment and to be secured in any adjustedposition by means indicated generally at 54. The securing means consistsof a bar 56 having inwardly curved end portions 58 adapted to pressagainst the flanges of vertical members 36. Straps 60 are secured to therear face of back plate 52 opposite openings 46 by rivets or the like.Straps 60 support studs 64 threaded to receive thumb nuts 66 (seeparticularly Fig. 11). As will be understood, member 48 may be securedat the desired elevation by screwing down thumb nuts 66 against bar 56to bind the inwardly bowed ends of the bar against the flanges ofmembers 36.

A retainer or registration bar 68 is mounted forwardly of the paperholder for vertical adjustment on tracks 70 carried by fixed framemembers '72 (see particularly Figs. 9 and 11). The mounting of the bar60 on tracks 70 suitably consists of U-shaped sockets '74 formed at theends of the retainer bar, the sockets being of a width to snugly receivethe tracks 70 whereby the bar will remain in any adjusted position. Theretainer bar carries one or more, preferably a pair, of spring fingers76 for a purpose later to be described.

A rack 78 is secured to the under side of plate 24, substantially midwayof its ends, the securing means suitably consisting of pins 80 receivedin openings at the opposite ends of the rack. Compression springs 82 aremounted on the pins between the rack and plate 24 whereby the rack isurged outwardly against the heads of the pins 80. Rack 78 cooperateswith a mutilated gear 84 mounted for rotation with a shaft 86 to whichit is keyed.

At one of the stations, suitably an end station, a connecting rod 88 ismounted on an eccentric bearing or cam 90 carried by the main shaft 91of the machine and is pivotally connected at the other end to aprojection on the mutilated gear 84 at the end stations, wherebyrotation of the main shaft causes the mutilated gear and the shaft tooscillate through a given path. Inasmuch as the mutilated gears at theremainder of the stations are also keyed to shaft 86, oscillation of theshaft will cause similar oscillation of each of the gears. The number ofteeth on mutilated gear 84 is set relative to the stroke of oscillationthat, at both ends of the stroke, the gear teeth move out of mesh withthe teeth of rack 78.

Sheet pick up and delivery device The sheet pick up and delivery devicewhich is also the same at each of the stations will now be described.This apparatus includes a suction head 92 mounted on a bracket 94carried by a plate 96, the suction head being positioned substantiallyopposite a point midway of the width of the sheet holder. Suction head92 is connected through a flexible hose 124 and a valve with a suctionmanifold 126 which, in turn, is connected to a suction device, as willbe later more fully explained. Plate 96 is carried at its opposite endsby arms 98 pivoted at their lower ends to crank arms 100 which, in turn,are pivotally mounted on a longitudinally extending fixed shaft 102.Arms 104 are pivoted at their upper ends to arms 98 at a pointsubstantially midway of the lengths of the latter and are fixed at theirother ends to a longitudinally extending shaft 106 adapted foroscillating movement. A spring 107 connects each pair of arms 98adjacent their pivoted ends to support the lower end of the sheetspicked up by the device.

The shaft 106 is common to the several stations and a single device isemployed to give it an oscillating movement. This device consists of aconnecting rod 108 pivoted at its upper end to lever arm 110 looselycarried by shaft 106. The other end of the connecting rod carries a pin112 received within a slot 114 in crank arm 116 fixed adjacent the endof the main shaft 91 of the machine for rotation therewith. Crank arm116 is shaped as shown in Fig. 7 to avoid interference between theconnecting rod and the shaft. Arm 110 loosely fits on shaft 106. Anadjustment member 118 is fixed to shaft 106 and lies parallel with arm110 for a portion of the length of the latter. The plate is providedwith a slot opening 120 to receive a bolt or stud 122 securing the plateand arm together in the selected adjusted position.

Operation of sheet holder and sheet pick up and delivery apparatus Inpreparation for the operation of the mechanism described above, the maindrive shaft is turned so that mutilated gear 84 is out of mesh with rack78. The holder at each of the stations to be placed in operation is thenmanually pulled rearwardly on rods 28 against; the action of the springs23 to space it from positioning bar 63. A stack of the sheets 10 to becollated is placed on edge in the holder 48 with their lower edgesresting on shelf 50, and the holder is adjusted to place the uppermargins of the sheets beneath suction head 92 when the latter is in itsrearmost position. The rearward pull on the holder is then released, thelatter moving forwardly under the tension of springs 33 until theforward sheet of the stack presses against positioning bar 68.

The machine is then operated and, upon each rotation of the main shaft91, the mutilated gear oscillates through the action of eccentric 90,and rod 88 to move the teeth of the gear into mesh with the teeth ofrack 78, thereby causing the rack and, hence, the paper holder, to moverearwardly. Continued rotation of the shaft moves the gear in theopposite direction, the sheet holder being carried with it, until theteeth of the mutilated gear move out of mesh with the rack teeth, theholder then being carried forwardly by the springs 33. Rotation of themain shaft also causes rotation of arm 116 with consequent swingingmovement of arms 110 and 104 from the position shown in full lines inFig. 6 to the dot and dash line positions. During this movement arms 100also move from the full line position of Fig. 6 to the dot and dash lineposition. Due to the fact that arms 100 have one end in fixed position,this causes the suction head supporting frame to reverse its positionfrom the full line position to the dot and dash line position of Fig. 6(see also Fig. 15). Eccentric 90 and arm are relatively placed on themain shaft so that the movement of the suction head is timed with theforward and rearward movement of the paper holder against positioningbar 68 when the suction head is in its rearward position and to causethe paper holder to move to the rear substantially simultaneously withthe sheet withdrawal movement of the suction head. Also, in timedrelation to these operations, suction is induced in the head 92, suctionbeing maintained until the sheet delivery means is in the position shownin the dot and dash lines of Fig. 6, at which time the suction is cutoff to release the sheet to be grasped by the feed rolls 14. The controland timing means to assure the cooperative position of these severalparts will be later described.

Sheet separating device In order to insure separation of the forwardsheet of the stack from the remaining sheets for pick up by the suctionhead 92, a sheet flufiing or separating means, indicated generally at128, is preferably provided. This consists (see particularly Figs. 6, 12and 13), of a fan 13 9 comprising a hub 132 supporting a plurality offlexible fabric blades 134. Although the particular manner in which theblades are assembled with the hub is not critical to the invention, thepreferred arrangement is that shown in Figs. 12 and 13 where the fabricblades are formed at one end with a tubular seam 138 adapted to receivea pin 140, and hub 132 has spaced, axially directed tubular slots 142adapted to receive the tubular seams 133. In assembling the fan member,seams 133 are slid endwise into slots 142 and pins 140 are then insertedto lock the blades in position. The fan is mounted on a shaft 136extending longitudinally of the machine and adapted to be drivensuitably from a separate variable speed motor 145. The fan'blades areenclosed by an annular shield 144 carried by a longitudinally extendingframe member 146 and defining a port positioned to direct airstreams setup by the fan blades toward, and across the ends of the stack of sheets.

It has been found that a fan as described sets up an air action whichfluifs out and separates the sheets at their upper ends and carries theforward sheet toward the suction head 92. Spring fingers 76, previouslyreferred to, serve to compress the stack adjacent its lower end tofacilitate the separating operation.

Sheet feed rolls and conveying mechanism As previously explained, thesheets are delivered by the sheet pick up and delivery mechanism to feedrolls 14 by which they are deposited on conveyor 16. The lower roll,consisting of a number of operatively connected sections, one for eachstation, is driven as by belt 150 from the machine drive and the upperroll, consisting of disconnected rolls, one for each section and havingtheir ends mounted for vertical sliding movement in brackets 152 wherebythey are rotated by the lower roll 14.

Conveyor 16 and its cooperating structure, consists of two spaced,endless belts 154 supported by rolls 156 and 153 at the opposite ends ofthe machine, the belts also passing around an idler roll 1611 and adriven roll 162. The latter is supported on a shaft having a bevel gear164 in meshing engagement with a corresponding bevel gear 166 (see Fig.8) carried by the main drive shaft. The upper reach of the conveyorbelts 154 overliea bed plate 168 supported as by angle members 170 fromthe machine frame. A fence 172 extends longitudinally of bed plate 168.

The fence consists of a Z-shaped member having an outwardly projecting,longitudinally extending flange 17.4 at its upper edge and an inwardlyextending flange 176 at its lower edge, and latter projecting under theouter belt 154. The fence is carried by brackets 178, the bracketsincluding sliders 180 (see Figs. 3 and 4) mounted for sliding movementon bars 182 supported by frame elements adjacent the opposite ends ofthe machine. The sliders 180 may be secured in any adjusted position onrods 182 by means of set screws 1,84. The width of the conveyor may thusbe narrowed or increased to adjust it to the width of the paper beingcollated. Inward movement of the fence causes similar inward movement ofouter conveyor belt 154. Upon outward adjustment of the fence it isdesirable that the outer conveyor belt also move outwardly. This isachieved by making the outer halves of rolls 15,6 and 151% of somewhatfrusto-conical shape (not shown) with the enlarged ends toward theoutside of the machine.

Flexible fingers or rods 187 are mounted for adjustment longitudinallyof the machine on flange 174, the. rods extending across the conveyor ateach of the stations to form slides for the side margins of the sheetsdelivered by the feed rolls. Retractable stops 188 are located betweenthe conveyor belts at the forward end of each of the stations (seeparticularly Figs. 4, 5 and 6), the stops being carried by elongatedarms 190 pivoted at their ends remote from the stop to a frame member,as indicated at 192. A short lever arm 194 is secured in fixedrelationship to each arm 190, the lower end of the short lever arm beingconnected by a loose pin connection 196 to a longitudinally extendingbar 198. A tension spring 202 is connected at one end to an end of bar198 and at the other end to the frame of the machine to urge the bar inthe forward direction. One of the arms 190, preferably the arm at theforward end of the machine, is connected by means of a link 204 to thecore of pull solenoid 20.6. As will be readily understood, downwardmovement of the plunger of the solenoid causes downward movement of thefor ward arm 1% which causes bar 198 to move rearwardly against theaction of spring 202, and. simultaneously swing the remainder of thearms 190 downwardly whereby all of the stops are retracted and thesheets held thereby are released for movement by the conveyor belts.When the current to the solenoid is cut off, the spring pulls bar 198forwardly and the stops are again elevated to sheet holding position. Aswill be pointed out more fully hereafter, the movements of the stops arein timed relation to the other operations of the collator.

T he machine drive mechanism Referring now particularly to Figs. 6, 7and 8, the driving and control mechanism will be described. The maindrive shaft 91, previously referred to, is supported in suitablebearings 208, and is driven. at the desired speed by a change speedmotor 210. The shaft carries lever arm 116, and cam or eccentric 90, todrive the pick up mechanism and the paper holder, respectively, aspreviously explained. A pulley 212 is keyed to the shaft, the pulleydriving the lower feed roll 14 through the medium of belt 150, thelatter being maintained in a taut condition by tightener 213. The maindrive shaft also carries a bevel gear 214 intermeshing with bevel gear164 to drive the conveyor belts 154. Shaft 91 also carries a series ofcollars 216 adapted to be fixed in adjusted position on the shaft, thecollars carrying actuating lugs 217. This mechanism constitutes part ofa timing apparatus also comprising a like number of microswitches 218adapted to be actuated by lugs 217. The operation of the timingapparatus will be discussed presently.

Shaft 136 supporting fans 128 is preferably driven in dependently of themain shaft. For this purpose a variable speed motor 145 (see Figs. 4and18) is supported by a bracket at an end of the machine and directlyconnected to the shaft 136. Also, a separate motor may be employedtodrive the suction pump to be referred to later.

The suction system As had been explained above, the pick up of thesheets from the paper holder is effected by means of suction cups 92connected by hoses 124 to a manifold 126 through valves 223. Referringparticularly to Figs. 7, 16 and 17, manifold 126 extends longitudinallyof the machine and is in communication through a vacuum dilferentialcontrol device or switch 220 and vacuum regulator 222 with a vacuum pump224. The latter is driven by its individual motor 226 (see particularlyFigs. 7 and 8). interposed between each of the hoses and the manifold isa three-way valve 228, previously referred to. Each of the valves (seeparticularly Figs. 16 and 1.7) consists of a cylindrical body 229supported by a nipple 230 from the manifold. The body contains aradially extending bore 232 in communication with nipple 230, a radiallyextending bore 234, at preferably right angles to bore 232 and incommunication with the hose 124, and a bore 236 in line with bore 232and leading to the atmosphere. The bodies are axially drilled to receivea rotatable valve rod 238. The rod is provided with an L-shaped passage240 opposite the bores in each of the bodies. Means are provided torotate rod 238 between a position in which passage 240 connects bores232 and 234 and a position in which it connects bores 234 and 236. Thismeans (see particularly Fig. 16) comprises a wing member 242 fixed tothe rod and having one arm connected to the plunger 244 of a pullsolenoid 246 whereby, when the solenoid is actuated, the rod will berotated from the position shown in Fig. 17 in which passage 240 connectsbores 232 and 234 to a position in which the passage connects bores 234and 236. Return rotation of the rod upon deactivation of the solenoid iseffected by a tension spring 248 connected to the other arm of member242 and to a fixed element of the apparatus, such as the solenoidhousing.

The timing and control mechanism and electrical system Referring nowparticularly to Figs. 7, 8 and 18, the control and timing systeminvolves the microswitches 218 and their associated actuating lugs 217fixed on the main shaft 91, the microswitches controlling the operationsof solenoids 286 and 246 operating the retractable stops 188 and thevalves 228 of the suction system, respectively. The switches areincorporated in an electrical circuit (see Fig. 18). The circuitincludes power input leads 250 adapted to be plugged into any suitablesource of current. Opening and closing of the current is controlled by amain switch 252, visual indication of the closing of the circuit beinggiven by a pilot light 254 connected across the leads 250. The power forthe vacuum pump motor 226, the fan motor 145 and the main drive motor210 is taken off the main leads 250 through switches 2%, 258, and 260,respectively. A rheostat 262 is connected in series in the line leadingfrom switch 258 to the fan motor to permit control of the speed ofrotation of the fan blades so that the velocity of the air streams setup thereby may be controlled to obtain the desired separation of thesheets. A power line is also taken oif the power leads through a switch264 for a purpose to be presently explained. Switches 252, 256, 258, 266and 264, pilot light 254, and rheostat 262 are mounted on a switch panel266 at the end of the machine (see particularly Fig. 4).

The power for operation of solenoids 246 and 206 is, as was mentionedabove, taken off the main power leads through switch 264. Referring nowparticularly to Fig. 18 where the microswitches 218 are given individualreference characters 218A-D, the control of the operation of thesolenoids will be described. One of the leads from switch 264 isconnected to normally open micro- 8 switch 218A. The other lead fromswitch 264 goes directly to the solenoid 246. The other side of switch218A is connected to solenoid 246 through vacuum switch 220.

The vacuum switch is of conventional type, adapted to remain closed whenthe vacuum in the line is above a certain specified limit, and to openwhen the vacuum drops below that limit. In operation, upon closing ofswitch 264 and closing of microswitch 218A by its operating lug on thedrive shaft of the machine, current is supplied to the solenoid,providing the vacuum is of the required value, and the plunger isretracted, causing rotation of rod 238 against the action of tensionspring 248 to close otf the suction line to the vacuum cups and open itto the atmosphere. Retraction of the plunger of the solenoid also causesclosing of contact 270 of a microswitch 272 mounted on the casing of thesolenoid. One side of microswitch 270 is connected to one side ofnormally closed microswitch 218B adapted to be opened when contacted byits corresponding lug on the main shaft. The other side of microswitch218B is connected to the power line to microswitch 218A. The other sideof microswitch 284i is connected to the power lead from switch 264. Itfollows that, upon closing of microswitch 270 by retraction of theplunger of solenoid 246, the plunger will remain retracted until theappropriate button on the main shaft opens microswitch 218B. Microswitch280 and its cooperating microswitch 2183 thus serve as a holding meansto hold the plunger retracted for the desired interval.

Operation of solenoid 246 also controls the operation of solenoid 206for the retractable stops 188. For this purpose a power lead is takenfrom the power lead to the main drive motor 210, and is connected intoone side of solenoid 2%. The other side of the solenoid is connected toone side of normally open microswitch 284, the latter including acontact 286 adapted to be closed by retraction of the plunger ofsolenoid 246. The other side of microswitch 284 is connected to one sideof normally open microswitch 218C, the latter being adapted to be closedby its corresponding lug on the shaft 91. The other side of microswitch218C is connected to the power line to motor 210. With this arrangement,retractable stops 188 are moved downwardly out of their paper holdingpositions only when the solenoid 246 is operated to cut ofl? the suctionto the suction cups. By properly positioning the actuating lug forswitch 218C, retraction of the stops is delayed until the sheets havebeen properly deposited on the conveyor. It will be appreciated that theactuating lugs for microswitches 2188 and 218C are relatively positionedso that switch 2188 is not opened until solenoid 206 has operated toretract the stops 138. The retractable stops are held in retractedposition for the required interval by means including normally closedmicroswitch 218D adapted to be opened by its actuating lug on the driveshaft. One side of switch 218D is connected into the power lead toswitch 218C. The other side is connected to a microswitch 283 includinga contact 290 adapted to be closed upon retraction of the plunger ofsolenoid 206. The other side of switch 288 is connected into the leadfrom solenoid 206 to switch 284. When the plunger of solenoid 206 isretracted, microswitch 288 is closed to connect the solenoid to thepower source through microswitch 218D whereby the plunger is heldretracted until the lug on the main drive shaft opens normally closedmicroswitch 218D.

As will be appreciated, the arrangement of the several switches andpower leads permits the cutting oif of vacuum to the vacuum cups at theappropriate time, that is,'when the sheets are adjacent the deliveryrolls, and the retraction of stops 188 at the desired interval afterrelease of the sheets to the delivery rolls, that is, when they aredeposited on the conveyor. The exact timing of these operations isobtained by proper adjustment of the lugs on the drive shaft. In theevent of the failure of solenoid 246 to operate, for example, whenvacuum switch 220 has opened because of reduction of vacuum in the linethrough failure of one of the suction cups to pick up a sheet, the stopsare retracted. Hence, neither the sheets picked up by the cups, northose held by the stops will be released, and the sheet pick up devicewill move through its cycle until the required vacuum is restored. Thistakes place when the empty vacuum cuppicks up its sheet. At that timethe deposit of the sheets on the conveyor and their movement thereby isrestored.

General operation the collator From the above description of the severalmechanisms and their operations the operation of the collator as a wholewill become readily apparent. Stacks of sheets are placed in each of theholders, or in only part of them, depending upon the number of sheets tobe collated. At any stations Which is not to be used the suction cup maybe closed off, for example, by placing a piece of adhesive tape acrossthe mouth of the cup.

Actual operation is begun by closing main switch 252 and starting theseveral motors by closing switches 256, 258 and 260. Rheostat 26?. isadjusted to rotate the fan blades at speeds which will set up aircurrents of sufficient strength to fluff out the forward sheets of thestacks from the remainder, it being appreciated that the strength of theair current desired will depend upon the particular weight and stiffnesscharacteristics of the paper to be collated. Upon each rotation of thedrive shaft the suction cups are simultaneously moved into positionsadjacent the forward sheets of the stack and sheets are picked up. Itwill be noted that the suction cup does not rest against the forwardsheet of the stack, the cup supporting mechanism being adjusted throughthe connections previously described so that at its rearward position itis adjacent to but spaced from the registration point, the forward sheetbeing carried to the suction cup or adjacent thereto by the air blastfrom the fan. In this way pick up of but a single sheet is insured anddouble sheeting is avoided.

The sheet pick up devices simultaneously move from the full lineposition of Fig. 6 to the dotted line position, to each place an edge ofthe sheet carried by it in contact with the lower of rolls 14. At thispoint the timing device causes the suction to be cut off, with theresult that the sheets slide forwardly to be gripped between the rolls14 and delivered thereby to the conveyor, one side margin of each sheetsliding along rod 187 and the other falling onto the conveyor or ontopreviously deposited sheets. The sheets slide forwardly in the directionof movement of the conveyor off the rods and drop gently into collectedposition. The sheets already on the conveyor are held stationary duringthe deposit of the superposed sheets by the stops 188. As soon asdeposit of the sheets is completed, the timing device causes operationof the stop withdrawal solenoid 206 and the stops are retracted topermit the piles of sheets to move forwardly to the next successivestation where the sheets are again halted by the stops which have onceagain advanced into sheet holding position. In the meantime the sheetpick up devices have returned to pick up additional sheets. The collatedsheets are finally deposited into hopper 20 as they move off the end ofthe conveyor.

The collator described above can be operated at high speeds and isentirely automatic. It may be adjusted as has been noted, to accommodatesheets of ditferent dimensions and papers of different weights. It willaccumulate both single and folded sheets. All necessary parts of theapparatus are subject to easy adjustment to insure proper timing of theoperations. Failure of a station to pick up a sheet stops the sheetdelivery operation and retains the previously delivered sheets againstmovement until the failure is remedied, the machine then automaticallyresuming operation.

Having thus described my invention in rather full detail, it will beunderstood that these details need not be strictly adhered to but thatvariouschanges and modifications may suggest themselves to one skilledin the art, all talk ing Within the scope of the invention as defined bythe subjoined claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a sheet gathering device, a plurality of stations, each of saidstations supporting a stack of sheets, conveying means to receive thesheets, means at each of the stations for removing a sheet from thestack and delivering it to the conveying means comprising a suction headand means for moving the suction head. through a continuous cycle from asheet pick up position to a sheet delivery position and back to thesheet pick up position, means to create a suction force in said suctionhead while the suction head is in the sheet pick up position and torelieve the suction when in the sheet delivery position, and meanscontrolling said last-named means to prevent relief of the suction atthe sheet delivering position in the event a suction head fails to pickup a sheet to cause sheets carried by other of said suction heads to beretained thereby and to move through said cycle therewith.

2. In a sheet gathering device, a plurality of stations, each supportinga stack of sheets, conveying means to receive the sheets, means at eachof said stations for removing a sheet from a stack and delivering it tothe conveying means, said sheet removal and delivery means comprising asuction head, means for moving the suction head from sheet pick upposition to sheet delivery position, means to create a suction force inthe suction head while in sheet pick up position and to relieve thesuction when in sheet delivery position, and means cooperating with saidconveying means to position previously delivered sheets to receivesheets of other stacks in superposed relationship and to release thesheets for movement by the conveying means after the sheet deliveryoperation, and means controlling the suction relief and the sheetpositioning means to prevent relief of the suction at the sheet deliveryposition and to prevent release of the previously delivered sheets bythe sheet positioning means in the event a head fails to pick up asheet.

3. In a sheet gathering device, a plurality of stations, each of saidstations supporting a stack of sheets, conveying means to receive thesheets, means at each of the stations for picking up a sheet from thestack and moving it to a sheet delivery position adjacent: the conveyingmeans, means for releasing the sheet from said pick-up means when saidpick-up means is in said delivery position, means cooperating with saidconveying means to position previously delivered sheets to receivesheets of other stacks in superposed relationship and to release thesheets for movement by the conveying means after the sheet deliveryoperation, and means controlling the operation of the means forreleasing the sheet from the pick-up means and of the sheet positioningmeans to prevent release of the sheet from the pick-up means at saiddelivery position and to prevent release of the previously deliveredsheets by the sheet positioning means in the event a pickup means failsto pick up a sheet.

4. In a sheet gathering device, a plurality of stations each of saidstations supporting a stack of sheets, feed rolls adjacent each of saidstations, means at each of said stations for removing a sheet from astack and delivering it to said feed rolls, a conveyor extendinglaterally of the feed direction of said feed rolls, means forcontinuously driving said conveyor, adjustable slides extendingtransversely of said conveyor in positions to receive one of the sidemargins of the sheets fed by the feed rolls, retractable stop meanscooperating with said conveyor opposite each of said stations to holdsheets on the conveyor momentarily stationary, and means for retractingsaid stop means in timed relationship to the operation of said sheetdelivery means.

5. In a sheet gathering device as defined by claim 4 in which saidconveyor comprises spaced inner and outer endless belts, an adjustablewall adjacent the outer of said sheets.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSGauchot Jan. 28, 1890 Zeh Sept. 13, 1904 10 Reifsnyder Aug. 31, 1915Harrold Aug. 13, 1918 12 Currie Apr. 5, 1921 Van Heek Sept. 14, 1926Jones Aug. 11, 1931 Klemm Jan. 10, 1933 West July 25, 1939 Gibson Oct.29, 1940 Morrison Mar. 31, 1942 Blythe Sept. 8, 1942 Liefer Nov. 13,1945 Davidson Sept. 23, 1947 Davidson Aug. 16, 1949

